Wire reeling mechanism



P 7 1946- N. H. NYE EI'AL 2,407,899 IIRB milie uncamxsm v v I Filed layso, 1944 2' Sheets-Sheet 1 5& 5 mums NORMAN Hm: and By WALTER ERQGERSATTORNEY? Sept. 17, 1946.

WIRE REELING MECHANISM Filed May 30, 1944 ZSheets-Sheet 2 Hi l YINVENTORS NORMAN mm: and BY WALTER aaoqeas ATTQRIFYS N. H. N-YE ETAL2,407,899

Patented Sept. 17, 1946 WIRE REELING MECHANISM Norman H. Nye, CuyahogaFalls, and Walter E. Rogers, Stow, Ohio, assignors to The VaughnMachinery Company, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Application May 30, 1944, Serial No. 537,998

The present invention, relating as indicated to wire reeling mechanism,has more particular regard to mechanism for winding or reeling fine wireor other like delicate stranded material in which automatic variation ofthe winding speed, as such material is built up on the reel or spool,requires to be smoothly effected and without subjecting the material toundue stress likely to cause breaking thereof.

An improved form of reeling apparatus for accomplishing the foregoing.result is disclosed in Patent No. 2,243,480, issued under date of May27, 1941 to N H. Nye, one of the present inventors,

. and E. J. McIlvried, wherein a member, positively actuated during thewinding operation, is utilized to actuate a variable speed driveconnected with the winding member or spool.

One principal object of the present invention is to provide speedchanging means whereby such winding member or spool is driven which willnot only be extremely sensitive but which i may be operated directly bydifierences in the speed of travel or tension of the strand, withoutimposing any undue strain thereon. Another object is to provide amechanism of the class in question which will be extremely simple andnot likely to get out of order. v

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention,then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularlypointed. out in the claims.

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detailcertain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed meansconstituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which theprinciple of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the terminal portion of a wire drawingmachine or stand of the type employed in. drawing fine diameter wire,such mechanism including the .reel or spool on which the finishedproduct is wound;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same portion of such machine;

Fig. 3 is a view corresponding to Fig. 1 but showing a modification inconstruction;

Fig. 4 is a view corresponding to Fig. 2, showing the same modificationas is illustrated in Fi 3;

Fig. 5 is a central vertical section of a portion of the speed changingmechanism whereby the speed of the winding spool or reel is varied;

Fig. 6 is a transverse section of another por- 3 Claims. (Cl. 242-45)tion of such mechanism, the plane of the section being indicated by theline 66 in Fig. 5;

Fig. '7 is a sectional view of control device associated with such speedchange means in the first form of my improved mechanism, thatillustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the plane of such section being indicatedby the line l-'l Fig; 1; and

Fig. 8 is a transverse section of such last-mentioned device, the planeof the view thereof being indicated by the line 88, Fig.7. I

It is noted that the parts of the speed change mechanism illustrated inFigs. 5 and 6 are common to both the form of reeling mechanism shown inFigs. 1 and 2 and that shown in Figs. 3 and 4; while the deviceillustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 is utilized only in such first-mentionedform.

Referring to such first form, illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, aspreviously stated only the terminal portion of the wire drawing machineis shown including the final die I through which the wire W passes onits way to the final drawing drum or block 2. Such die and drum aremounted on a suitable vertical plate-like frame or stand 3 which alsocarries such additional number of dies and drawing drums (not shown) asmay be required to efiect the desired reduction of the strand beingdrawn. 1 2

Also suitably mounted on such frame or stand, preferably'directly belowdrum 2, is a reel or spool 4 whereon the finished wire is wound. Thelatter is removably mounted in conventional manner on a spindle 5 sothat when one is filled another may be substitutedtherefor. There isalso diagrammatically shown associated with. such spool or reel4 theusual travelling guide device 6 for guiding or laying the strand as itis being wound. As successive layers of the material are wound on thespool or reel the effective diameter of the latter of course isincreased and it accordingly becomes necessary graduallyto reduce thespeed of rotation of shaft 5 since otherwise the portion of thestrandbetween drum 2 and such spool or real would be subjected to undue strainwhich would finally break it.

As shown, spindle 5 which carries the spool or reel 4 is convenientlydriven from the spindle 1,

i which carries winding drum 2, by means of V- gagement oi theoverlapping ends of belts 8 and 9 with the pulley. The latter as a wholeis mounted for rotative as well as endwise shiftable movement on a pin13 carried by an arm M' which is reciprocable in the same generaldirection in which the belts 8 and 9 are extended, 1. e. vertically intheconstruction illustrated (see Figs. 2 and 4).

The type of change speed pulley in question forms no part of the presentinvention, being well known, and it will suffice to state that as arm itis lowered the upper end of :belt 3 and the overlapping lower end ofbelt 9 will be forced into the positions which they are respectivelyshown as occupying in Fig. 6, in which position spindle will be drivenat its maximum speed. On the other hand, as said arm I4 is raised, therelative positions of such overlapping belt ends in pulley IE willchange until such positions are reversed, in which condition spindle 5will be driven at its minimum speed.

, Such shifting movement of arm l4, and consequent change in the rate ofspeed at which spindle 5 is driven, is relatedto the condition of thewire W between drawing drum 2 and the spool or reel 41 mounted on saidspindle 5 by one or the other of the means prese'ntly to be described.Both such means are affected by the rate of speed at which suchstretchof wire travels, one being thus afiected directly through agoverning device and the other indirectly through a tensioning devicewhich takes up any slack in such stretch of wire.

In the case of both such means the same operating mechanism (shown indetail in Fig. 5), is employed to shift arm 14 in the mannerand for thepurpose previously stated. The main element of such mechanism is ahydraulic cylinder 25, mounted on the rear face of frame 3 adjacent oneside and just above the change speed pulley t2. Said cylinder is dividedinto two approximately equal portions by a transverse partition I5,communication between the two portions being -controlled by a centrallylocated port ll and one ormore lateral ports HS in which are seatedspring pressed ball valves 19 and 2!! respectively. These valves are sodisposed as normally to persi'ble of course upon ball valve [9 beingunseated,

by the means to be described. Downward move ment of the piston tocompress said spring may be accomplished through any suitable means,manual or otherwise, a lever 21 connected with the lower end of thepiston stem 24 and, through the medium of a link 28, with a treadle 29being shown for this purpose in the general views Figs. 1 to 4 inclusiveof the mechanism.

Located in the upper portion of the cylinder and disposed in alignmentwith ball valve I9 is a rod 30, the lower end of which rests on saidvalve while the upper end extends through the upper end of the cylinder.A compression spring 3|, which surrounds said rod and bears against anabument 32 thereon, serves to counterbalance its weight and yet permitits downward movement upon application of light pressure on its upper Iend. In the first form of control device which,

mit a liquid, e. g. oil, with which the cylinder is approximatelyfilled, to pass freely through the wall It from the upper portion to thelower portion of the cyinder but to prevent such flow in a reverse ,7direction. There is also replaceably seated in port ll below valve IS anaperturedplug 2!, the aperture in such plug being selected to permitflow of liquid from the lower portion ;;.2

of the cylinder to the upper portion at a predetermined rate when valve[9 is unseated.

The upper portion of the cylinder is also connected with the lowerportion by a duct 22 which provides in effect a by-pass permitting anyfluid which may leak past the piston 23 to be returned from beneath suchpiston to the upperportion of the cylinder. ,Said piston is reciprooablymounted in the lower portion of the cylinder, the stem 25.

tends to urge such piston upwardly, i. e. toward the Wall I6, but suchmovement will only be PCS? as previously mentioned, is designed to beaffected by the speed of travel of the stretch of wire W between drawingdrum 2 and reel '4,,a solenoid 35 is mounted on the end of cylinder l5adjacent such upper end of rod 36, such solenoid being arranged so thatupon energization the rod will be forced downwardly asunicient distanceto unseat valve i9. Energization of the'solenoid is effected through arelay circuit 3'6 whenever a micro-switch 31 (see Fig. 7) is' closed bythe action of a governor 38 driven by mean'sfo-f a pulley 35 aroundwhich the stretch 'o fiwire' W in' question is looped as shown inFig. 1. f This governor 33 is of special construction, consisting simplyof a short bar section turned at its ends to provide suitablejournalsfor rotative mounting in bearings ll), said zbar beingsplitlongitudinally intermediately of such ends and the respectiveportions spread outwardly a sufiicient distance so as to' be aiTected bythe centrifugal force generated upon rapid rotation of the governor.Such rotation at a sufiiciently high rate of speed will cause a slightincrease in the amount of such spread and correspondingly shorten theoverall length of the governor with the result that the end 4-3 thereofwhich normally contacts element 37a of switch 3'! will bewithdrawn asufficient amount to permit the switch to snap and close the relaycircuit 36.

lt'will be noted that bearing 43 adjacent the outer end of the governorto which pulley 39 is attached is seated against an abutment 4! while aspring 32 is interposed between the other bearing and the adjacent wallof the housing in which the governor is mounted. I The governor is thusheld in fixed endwise position with respect to said abutment 4!, but itsinner end 43; that which is designed to operate the micro-switch 31,

U-shaped resilient arm 31b, the position of which may be adjusted bymeans of a knurled screw 310 so as to vary the setting of contact member31a in relation to the adjacent end of the governor.

In the alternative construction illustrated in Figs. 3' and 4, insteadof employing a governor with relay circuit and solenoid, as described,to actuate valve !9 in cylinder l5, a tension pulley E5 is providedaround which the stretch of wire W intermediate drum 2 and reel 4 ispassed. Such a pulley is familiarly used to take up any slack in thewire being drawn, both at the point in question and between successivedrawing drums, and the mounting therefor, it will be understood, ismerely typical of various mountings which may be employed. As shown,said pulley is carried by lever 46 with which is associated anadjustable compression spring 41 whereby any desired degree of tensionmay be imposed on such stretch of wire as it passes around pulley 45.Connected with lever 46 through a system of links and levers 48 is a rod49 which is disposed in alignment with valve rod 33 and adapted tocontact with the upper end thereof. The arrangement is such that as thestretch of wire W which passes around pulley or sheave 35 is shortened,said rod 49 will be caused to press downwardly upon rod 3?) and thusunseat valve 19 in exactly the same manner as the latter is unseatedwhen solenoid 35 is energized by operation of governor 33 at apredetermined speed.

The operation of my improved wire reeling mechanism, as a whole, willnow be set forth. When a fresh spool or reel 4 is mounted on spindie 5at the beginning of a winding or reeling operation, the piston 23 incylinder l5 will be drawn downwardly to its lowermost position,approximately as shown in Fig. 5. The spring 2&3 will thus be compressedand the liquid below the piston in the cylinder will be forced throughbypass 22 into the upper portion of the latter, i. e. above the wall orpartition [6. At the same time such liquid will be drawn from such upperportion of the cylinder through the valves l9 and 29 (more particularlythe latter) to fill the space in the lower portion of the cylinderbetween such wall or partition and piston 23. Since said valves normallyprevent reverse flow of liquid, the piston will be permitted to moveupwardly only as valve l 9 is from time to time unseated. In suchlowermost position of the piston the change speed pulley [2 will drivethe spindle 5 and thu the reel t at maximum speed. However, assuccessive layers of wire are wound on the latter so that its effectivediameter is increased, a point will be reached where in one case throughthe increased speed at which the wire is drawn around pulley cr sheave39, the governor 38 will be actuated to unseat valve I9, or in the othercase the pulley or sheave 45 will be drawn downwardly to similarlyactuate said valve through linkage 48 and rod 49.

In either case liquid in the lower portion of the cylinder 15 will beallowed to pass into the upper portion thereof with resultant upwardmovement of piston 23 and corresponding actuation of change speed pulleyl2 to reduce the rate of speed at which spindle 5 is driven.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the change in speed of rotationof the winding spool or reel is effected gradually, i. e. by incrementsso small as to be barely perceptible. Particularly where the solenoidwith relay circuit actuated by a micromatic switch is utilized, anextremely sensitive efiect is obtainable. Accordingly, with my improvedmechanism even the 6 finest wire or equivalent stranded material may bewound up with a minimum risk of breakage. It is noted that claims to theabove described governor have required to be divided out and accordinglyare presented in our separate application filed December 1, 1944, SerialNo. 566,156.

Other modes of applying the principle of our invention may be employedinstead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanismherein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the followingclaims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

We therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as ourinvention:

1. In mechanism for winding stranded material, a rotatable windingspool, a variable speed drive therefor, and means for adjusting saiddrive, said means including a fluid-containing cylinder, a pistonreciprocable in said cylinder and operatively connected with said drive,means other than said fluid associated with said piston and tending tomove same to reduce the speed of said drive, a check valve normallypreventing escape of fluid from said cylinder in front of said pistonwhereby such movement of the latter is restrained, means engaging thematerial as it passes to said spool and adapted to be actuated therebyto unseat said check valve, and a by-pass permitting flow of fluid fromthe rear to the front of said piston.

2. In mechanism for winding stranded material, a rotatable windingspool, a variable speed drive therefor, and means for adjusting saiddrive, said means including a fluid-containing cylinder, a pistonreciprocable in said cylinder and operatively connected with said drive,a spring associated with said piston and tending to move same to reducethe speed of said drive, a check valve normally preventing escape offluid from aid cylinder in front of said piston whereby such movement ofthe latter is restrained, means engaging the material as it passes tosaid spool and adapted to be actuated thereby to unseat said checkvalve, and a by-pass permitting flow of fluid from the rear to the frontof said piston.

3. In mechanism for winding stranded material, a rotatable windingspool, a variable speed drive therefor, and means for adjusting saiddrive, said means including a fluid-containing cylinder, a pistonreciprocable in said cylinder and operatively connected with said drive,a compression spring associated with said piston and tending to movesame to reduce the speed of said drive, a check valve normallypreventing escape of fluid from said cylinder in front of said pistonwhereby such movement of the latter is restrained, an electric circuitincluding a solenoid adapted upon being energized to unseat said valve,a one-piece, longitudinally split rotatable member connected to bedriven by the material as it passes to said spool, and a micromaticswitch in said circuit arranged to be actuated by change in length ofsaid member due to centrifugal force.

NORMAN H. NYE. WALTER E. ROGERS.

